IBM Halts Visa, Green Card Sponsorship in Consulting Arm
TL;DR
- IBM will stop sponsoring US work visas and green cards for most roles in IBM Consulting, its largest division with more than 150,000 workers.
- Staff on sponsored visas must transfer to an IBM role outside the United States or leave the company by year-end.
- The move follows Trump administration proposals for $100,000 H-1B filing fees and lottery rules that favor higher-paying employers.
IBM will stop sponsoring US work visas and green cards for most positions in IBM Consulting, the company's largest division and home to more than 150,000 workers. Those already on sponsored visas have two choices: transfer to an IBM role outside the United States, or leave the company by year-end.
The company 'will no longer sponsor visas and green cards for most roles in IBM Consulting,' Bloomberg reported. An IBM spokesperson said participation in high-skilled visa programs had been declining for years, and attributed the shift to changes in skill availability and client needs. IBM continues to sponsor visas in other divisions. Shares closed about 1% lower on the day of the announcement.
The policy lands in a tightened federal environment. The Trump administration has proposed a $100,000 filing fee for most H-1B candidates and rewritten lottery rules to prioritize employers offering higher salaries. Microsoft, Adobe, and other companies have been suspended from visa programs.
It is the fifth IBM entry in our last 90 days of coverage, and lands in a stretch where our jobs tracker has logged 122 AI-employment stories over the same window.
Originally reported by bloomberg.com
Read the original article →Original headline: IBM Ends H-1B and Green Card Sponsorship for Most Roles in IBM Consulting, Its Largest Unit